By Jake Donovan

Lucas Matthysse needs little incentive to jump in the ring with anyone. The opposite is true, as the free-swinging Argentine slugger usually has to go hunting for willing opposition.

Still, there is plenty to be gained from this weekend's clash with unbeaten Viktor Postol. The two collide for a vacant super lightweight title in an HBO-televised headliner live from StubHub Center in Carson, California.

It's the most significant fight for Matthysse (34-3, 30KOs) since coming up short in his World super lightweight championship contest with Danny Garcia just over two years ago.

"There's no question, it's a very important fight for him," Oscar de la Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions founder and CEO pointed out to BoxingScene.com prior to a media workout session for this weekend's combantats Wednesday afternoon. "He's fighting for the world title, against an unbeaten, dangerous opponnent trained by a Hall of Fame legend in Freddie Roach. It's a tough fight for both guys."

Even bigger game potentially lies ahead for the winner, particularly if it's the TV-friendly Matthysse. The hard-hitting veteran has won three straight, including an off-the-canvas 11th round stoppage of John Molina last April, a bout hailed by Boxing Writers Association of America as 2014 Fight of the Year.

Drawing similar praise was his efforts in a 12-round win over Ruslan Provodnikov, coming 51 weeks after the Molina fight. With his flair for pleasing the crowd in high-level fights, it's only natural that a win on Saturday could lead to a blockbuster event.

"I strongly feel if Lucas Matthysse impresses, he's in line to face Manny Pacquiao next year," de la Hoya insists, echoing similar comments shared by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum - Postol's co-promoter - to BoxingScene.com's Steve Kim on Wednesday.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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